Report: Military plane crashes in Algeria, killing 103

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Report: Military plane crashes in Algeria, killing 103

By Ammar Benaziz

(CNN) — A military plane crashed Tuesday in the mountains of eastern Algeria, killing 103 people, including women and children, Algerie Presse Service reported.

The Hercules C-130 was carrying members of the Algerian air force, according to the Defense Ministry’s website. It was flying from Tamanrasset in southern Algeria to Constantine in the east, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“An investigative team has been created and sent to the scene to determine the cause and the exact circumstances of this tragic accident,” the Defense Ministry statement said, adding that top military officials were heading to the crash site.

There is conflicting information about how many people were on board the plane. Algerian radio said 103 people were on the aircraft, while other media had a higher number.

State radio, citing a military source, said bad weather was behind the crash.

There was a snowstorm in the area when the plane went down, witnesses told the radio network.